River renaturation

Background

The natural river landscape is characterized by the continuously changing water level. It is diversely formed by the power of the river. It shelters many animal and plant species on narrow space. Mankind always sought for proximity to streams and rivers. They provide humans and their cattles with drinking water. Humans use the power of water with mills and plants, and rivers provide ships transportation routes. Hundreds of years ago humans began to control rivers. They wanted to use the valleys even better. Swamps were drained to create high quality fields and meadows. Humans started to fix the course of the river by using simple constructions.

Challenges

When modern construction machines were created, rivers got reconstructed to a large extent. On long hauls, their course got reconstructed so they became straight channels. The embankments were paved with stones and concrete. Riverside forest and wetlands were cut from the river by seawalls. Nowadays we know that this caused the disappearance of habitat of many animal and plant species. If we want to bring back nature, we need complex construction work, but also the willingness of many interested parties to reduce the previous use.

Competence

RIOCOM develops ideas on how to give back more space to rivers together with river authorities and riparian communities. We are engineers who understand the language of ecologists and conservationists. So we can assist in bringing all interests into harmony.